Published: June 26, 2009 08:28 am      

Letters for June 26, 2009

Seward entrenched in Albany slime pit

Just when you thought the stench from Albany couldn't get any worse, local senator James Seward, along with his Senate Republican cronies, sinks even further into the political cesspool, again putting his personal self-interest over the needs and concerns of constituents.

Seward's cynical actions in procuring two tainted colleagues to switch sides in the Senate have furthered the gridlock that makes our Legislature the laughingstock of the nation. These latest "Friends of Jim" stand accused of misdirecting millions of dollars of taxpayer funds, and assaulting a woman using a broken glass, yet Seward says he is "... excited to be a part ..." of the new gang. He even voted to make one of the miscreants temporary president of the Senate!

Seward has his own ethical challenges. His predecessor as Senate Insurance Committee chairman was forced to resign when convicted of bribery in steering state contracts to clients of his law firm. As his replacement, Seward continued to receive thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the insurance industry, while limiting state oversight and keeping New York's insurance rates the highest in the country.

On top of this, Seward has the chutzpah to proclaim his self-serving actions as "reform." He had more than two decades in the Senate majority leadership to bring about reform, and did nothing but maintain the corrupt system that lines the pockets and guarantees the re-election of our "public servants."

Has the state Senate hit rock bottom? That remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Jim Seward is firmly entrenched in the slime pit of Albany politics, and until the voters rise up and clean house, we are all soiled by his behavior.

Andrew Mason

Jefferson

Choral concert true gift to region

The pleasant, late-spring Saturday evening was enhanced by the enchanting sound of human voices at the United Methodist Church on Chestnut Street in Oneonta.

The sanctuary acoustics were ideal for the voices and piano of the Catskill Choral Society to render offerings of inspiring music from this and other centuries. The range from deepest bass to soaring soprano, with all too few measures from cello and oboe, kept the ears, soul and spirit and mind enchanted, healed and inspired.

There were no electronic invasions of the senses, no artificial gadgets to tease the brain, no blasts to scar the ear drums, simply wonderful human voices in harmony and unison with controlled dynamics, clear articulation and deep respect for the composers and audience.

Two Timothys, Newton as conductor, Horne as pianist, led the well-rehearsed, disciplined and focused voices through sublime, quite pianissimos and robust crescendos with passion and precision.

Here was humanity at its best: choral music without gimmicks, tricks or artificial enhancements. Here were human voices cooperating, not competing; human voices blending; each enriching the others, all without corporate greed, political posturing or preening.

Here was another gift of the region to the region: an evening of beauty, serenity and peace. Praise and appreciation go to the Catskill Choral Society, conductor and pianist.

Richard E. Lake

Afton